Slider box for a heavy-duty vehicle

Abstract

A frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer includes a pair of elongated, spaced-apart parallel main members, each one having a pair of spaced apart parallel vertical walls. At least one cross member extends between and attaches to the main members, and includes a pair of spaced apart parallel transversely-extending vertical walls. Each one of a first pair of hangers includes a pair of spaced-apart parallel vertical walls that generally align and attach to the main member vertical walls. Each hanger includes a hanger support having a pair of spaced apart parallel vertical webs integrally formed with a diagonally extending side member. The hanger support attaches to the inboard hanger wall and also to the cross member. The frame reduces weight and provides improved reaction of longitudinal and side loads, yet still efficiently reacts vertical and racking loads imparted on the frame during operation of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer comprising:
 a) a pair of spaced-apart, parallel, elongated and longitudinally extending main members, each one of said pair of main members including a pair of spaced apart parallel vertical longitudinally extending walls; 
 b) at least one cross member extending between and being attached to said main members, said cross member including a pair of spaced apart parallel transversely-extending front and rear vertical walls; and 
 c) a first pair of hangers, each one of said hangers including a pair of spaced-apart parallel vertical walls, said hanger vertical walls each generally being aligned with and attached to a respective one of said main member vertical walls, each one of said hangers including a hanger support, said hanger support including a pair of spaced apart front and rear vertical webs formed with a diagonally extending side member, said hanger support attached to an inboard hanger vertical wall and to said cross member, so that said hanger support vertical webs each generally align with a respective one of said cross member vertical walls. 
 
     
     
       2. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 1 , further comprising a generally U-shaped channel extending longitudinally along and being attached to each one of said main members. 
     
     
       3. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 2 , wherein said channel extends longitudinally along said main member from said first pair of hangers to a second pair of hangers that are longitudinally spaced from said first pair of hangers. 
     
     
       4. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 1 , further comprising an air spring support attached to said main member and to a cross member, for supporting an air spring of the heavy duty vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of air spring supports, each one of said air spring supports attached to respective ones of said main members and to said cross member. 
     
     
       6. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cross member includes a base member having a pair of ends, said base member extending perpendicularly between and being attached to said main members at said base member ends, and a pair of inclined members each having a base end and an outboard end, said inclined members each extending angularly between and being attached to a respective one of said main members at the outboard end and said base member at the base end, said base ends of said base ends of said inclined members being attached to said base member in a spaced-apart relationship. 
     
     
       7. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for selectively positioning said frame structure relative to said trailer for variable load distribution of cargo contained in the trailer. 
     
     
       8. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 7 , wherein said means for selectively positioning said frame structure relative to said trailer is a retractable pin mechanism. 
     
     
       9. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 1 , in which said frame structure is formed from steel. 
     
     
       10. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 1 , wherein a material thickness of said main members is from about 0.231 inches to about 0.164 inches. 
     
     
       11. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 1 , wherein a material thickness of said main members is about 0.164 inches. 
     
     
       12. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 1 , each one of said pair of main members having a generally-G-shaped cross section. 
     
     
       13. The frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer of  claim 1 , wherein said hanger support front vertical web is attached to said hanger frontwardly of a pivot of said hanger, and said hanger rear vertical web is attached to the hanger rearwardly of said pivot of said hanger.